Tech Tip:
Will back inflation float an unconscious diver face up?

We usually hear this from divers who have always worn a jacket style BC, and we'd like to point out that it's irrelevant. It's true, that boating regulations require an approved wearable Personal Floatation Device (PFD) to float the unconscious victim face up in the water. But a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) for scuba divers is not designed to be a PFD for an unconscious boating accident victim, regardless if the BC is jacket or back inflation.

We offer back inflation style options because experienced divers have learned the back inflation BCD is better than a jacket BCD, offering very precise control of buoyancy and trim as well as offering a more streamlined profile. An improperly fitted back inflation BCD might cause you to tip forward, but a properly fitted back inflation BCD, worn with a crotch strap, will allow you to assume and hold any position under the water, or on the surface.

When on the surface, divers new to back inflation will need to break the habit of holding down the power inflator until they feel squeeze (there won't be any), or hear the OPV release. With an over inflated air cell they will have a huge amount of buoyancy on their back, causing them to float too high in the water and tip forward. Instead, they should add only enough gas until their head is just above the water.

Finally, a very common error when selecting a back inflation BCD is to choose an buoyancy aircell (called a 'wing') that is much too big, causing a 'taco effect' that makes managing buoyancy considerably more difficult. The cylinder size, type and configuration, not lift capacity, is the best guide to selecting the correct wing. While many doubles wing designs can be adjusted for occasional use with singles, keep in mind they are not designed to be used primarily as singles wings and they are not optimal with singles. Unless you are diving one of the very large steel cylinders, a 30 lb (14 kg) is about the maximum lift you need for single tank sport diving.

Trusted Scuba Advice

Advice you can trust from The Scuba Doctor.

Trusted Scuba Advice from The Scuba Doctor

Drysuits, wetsuits and undersuits
at The Scuba DoctorOwning diving equipment represents a long-term investment in fun and safety. A good set of dive gear can last through years of diving and travel, take you to unforgettable experiences in incredible underwater environments and bring you home safely. It is important to buy the right gear for the type of diving you will do, ensure that it fits and is comfortable, be trained in its use and keep it serviced at recommended intervals.

The Scuba Doctor offers free advice to divers of all levels of qualifications on the right diving equipment to use and purchase for their particular scuba gear requirements. Whether you are a recreational diver just starting out, or a technical diver looking to "Do It Right", we have the scuba gear and diving equipment configuration advice you need.

OMS in stock at The Scuba DoctorUnlike normal dive shops whose prime business is to sell you the gear they have in their store, The Scuba Doctor's interest lies in making sure you have the right gear to suit your diving, within your budget, and we will recommend the best place to buy it. Our recommendations are truly unbiased.

Scuba Buying Guides

Not sure what to choose. Well we have Scuba Buying Guides to help you how to buy and what to buy. These are extensive advice pages written by our diving professionals which offer the best advice short of contacting us by phone, email or in person at our dive shop.

Dive Gear Features You Need to Know About Before You Buy

Not sure about the key features you need to know about, and what you can ignore when buying dive gear? Then we also have the following pages to help you get to know what matters and what doesn't about the key features of dive gear.